Chicago Bears Stay or Go: Damien Williams
The Chicago Bears have not decided on a General Manager yet, but that person will have to act fast to decide on big decisions for players on the roster but also entering free agency. With new names in the mix, we do not know who front offices will prefer.
The Chicago Bears signed Damien Williams to a one-year in 2021. Williams had 40 carries for 164 yards and added 16 catches for 103 yards for the Bears. Is this a player they should be trying to retain in NFL free agency?
Chicago Bears should keep Damien Williams
You can say that the coaching staff was crazy, but when Damien Williams was healthy, they still preferred him over Khalil Herbert. The biggest reason for this comes down to pass protection. Williams is more experienced and the coaches could trust that he would be in the right spot.
The Bears are likely to be moving on from Tarik Cohen, so behind David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert is nothing in the room. It would not hurt to bring back a veteran that these two young backs are familiar with for one more season.
Chicago Bears should let Damien Williams go
Even when Williams played last season he was not very effective. His rushing production was at his worst since 2016, and his yards per target were the worst in his career. He had injuries and COVID, but he was not a difference-maker.
Beyond that, he was favored by the coaches because he signed with Matt Nagy, a coach he spent plenty of time with within Kansas City. If he did not know Nagy he would not have ended up here, and now that Nagy is gone there is little reason to bring him back.
Next. 5 Bears who will not return in 2022. dark
Damien Williams does not provide nearly enough on special teams to make him a number three back, and the Chicago Bears should look to a cheaper player who is not on a veteran salary contract to fill in this spot on the depth chart.